The redevelopment of downtown Modesto has been a resounding success over the past 10 years -- a storybook tale of how redevelopment is supposed to work.
It started with the Lincoln School site and then the Red Lion Hotel (which became the DoubleTree) and Modesto Centre Plaza. It was followed by the city/county building at 1010 10th St. and the Brenden Theatres nearby.
Several years later, the Red Pepper opened -- demonstrating the success and potential of live entertainment. This was followed by the Fat Cat Music House and, before long, a real downtown nightlife emerged. Soon, other clubs opened -- the Copper Rhino, Modesto Sports Bar, Palladium and Speakeasy Lounge.
New eateries also became part of the revitalization with places like Tresetti's, Harvest Moon, Dewz, Bacchus, Clayton's, Galleto Ristorante and Fuzio.
Then came two big civic projects -- the State Theatre was completely remodeled and the Gallo Center for the Arts was finally erected. A whole new downtown economy was born and in less than a decade, the entertainment industry in Modesto had created hundreds of jobs, leading to hundreds of thousands of dollars in wages and tax income for the city.
In these tough and uncertain times, however, considering downtown as an ongoing investment has become a tricky thing. For growth to continue, downtown needs direction from city government and incentives to plan its growth intelligently.
The next step calls for the reinforcement of this key community economic component. The city needs to solidify its position as the premier entertainment destination for the San Joaquin Valley -- from Fresno to Stockton. It is imperative that the city make redevelopment funds available to the subsequent generation of entrepreneurs in order to take our downtown entertainment district to the next level and for our city to reap the rewards.
The past few years have shown that the future of downtown is intrinsically tied to entertainment. There is a push for a Lucas Museum in Modesto. There are new festivals and parades being created every year -- from the PT Cruiserfest and the Kiwanis Graffiti Parade and Car Show to X-Fest to the Motorcycle Festival to the Modesto Art & Wine Festival and the Amgen Tour of California.
The time to act is now. As a community, we need to encourage the Modesto City Council to take control of downtown's future and direct redevelopment funds to projects that will help in the creation of new restaurants, clubs and theaters. The council also should approve the new entertainment ordinance that has been developed with input from downtown business owners and the Modesto Police Department. All of these steps will continue to encourage development of more residences in a downtown that offers a walkable lifestyle with enjoyable amenities.
The success of the last decade provides a clear vision for the future of downtown Modesto. We've proven that entertainment, arts and dinning are solid economic engines providing reliable financial growth while we're having fun!
Ricci was a visiting editor with The Bee for the first quarter of 2008 and is the general manager of Fat Cat Music House.
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